HEAT INSULATING FOOT PAD

Abstract

An insulated, flexible foot pad comprises a polyalkylene bubble sheet sandwiched between a pair of reflective, metallized films that are bonded to the bubble sheet. Exposed faces of the metallized film are provided with a non-slip surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/983,181, filed on Apr. 23, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to outdoor comfort articles, more particularly to heat insulating foot pads for use by spectators of outdoor sporting events and the like.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Pieces of cardboard are frequently used as insulating material to keep the soles of feet warm at outdoor events, e.g., in the stadium at a ball game, by ice fishermen, by spectators at ski races, and others. After use, however, the cardboard pieces usually are left behind, resulting in massive clean-up requirements at the event venue. The present invention reduces substantially the clean-up efforts at event venues and provides a convenient, light weight reusable insulating foot pad that can be conveniently repackaged and stored after use.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

An insulating flexible foot pad suitable for outdoor use at sporting events such as football games, ski races, bobsled races, and the like has a rectangular configuration and comprises a polyalkylene (e.g., polyethylene or polypropylene) bubble sheet sandwiched between reflective metallized films that are bonded to both sides of the bubble sheet. A non-slip surface is provided on the exposed faces of the metallized films. Preferably, the exposed faces have an undulating surface.

The size of the insulating foot pad can vary but usually is a rectangle of about 16 inches by 32 inches. The insulating foot pad preferably has a thickness of about ¼ inch to about ½ inch, more preferably 5/16 inch to ⅜ inch, and has an insulating R-value of at least about 10 per inch, preferably about 15 to about 20 per inch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an insulating, flexible foot pad assembly with the foot pad in a rolled-up configuration;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the insulating, flexible foot pad ready for use; and

FIG. 3 shows a side elevational view of the foot pad of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a foot pad assembly 10 comprising a rolled-up, rectangular, insulating foot pad 12 and carrier 14 therefor.

Foot pad 12 includes a pair of opposed reflective faces with a non-slip surface, such as coating 16, or strips of anti-slip tape, on the surface of each face, as will be described in greater detail hereinbelow.

Carrier 14 comprises a pair of spaced wrapping retainers, such as band 18 and band 20, that surround rolled-up pad 12 and are joined to one another by handle 22. Bands 18 and 20 preferably are fabric strips provided with hook-and-loop (Velcro®) fasteners for each. Alternatively, bands 18 and 20 can be rubber bands joined by handle 22.

The structure of pad 12 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Pad 12 on each exposed face is provided with a reflective, metallized aluminum coated film 24 and 26 which also carries a non-slip coating 16 and 30. At least one, and preferably both, of the exposed faces defined by the aluminum coated films preferably provides an undulating surface for pad 12. Sandwiched between aluminum coated films 24 and 26 is a polyalkylene bubble sheet 32 with at least one layer of air-entrapping bubbles.

As best seen in FIG. 3, metallized films 24 and 26 with vapor deposited aluminum coating 34 and 36 thereon are bonded to both sides of bubble sheet 32. A non-slip coating 16 and 30 is provided on each exposed face of metallized films 24 and 26, respectively.

Bubble sheet 32 is made of polyalkylene polymeric material such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and the like. The thickness of the bubble sheet preferably is in the range of about ¼ to about ½ inch, more preferably about 5/16 to ⅜ inch.

The reflective metallized film can be a polyethylene film, a polypropylene film, a polyethylene terephthalate film, and the like having a layer of aluminum deposited thereon by vapor deposition. The thickness of the aluminum layer on the metallized film usually is about 0.5 micrometers.

The non-slip surface coating can be a resin composition containing abrasive particles or rubber particles, a varnish composition containing abrasive particles, a siloxane-based composition comprising finely divided sand pre-treated with a hydrolysable organosilicon compound suspended in a curable silanol-terminated diorganopolysiloxane, and the like.

A particularly preferred non-slip coating composition is a sprayable epoxy polymer coating such as Krylon®3400 non-skid coating, and the like.

The non-slip coating composition preferably is applied by spraying onto the metallized film.

Alternatively, the non-slip surface can be provided by strips of an anti-slip adhesive tape such as the oxide grit anti-slip tape, silicon carbide anti-slip tape, and the like commercially available from W. W. Grainger, Inc., Lake Forest, Ill.

Foot pad 10, when unrolled and ready for use is generally rectangular, about 16 inches wide, about 32 inches long, and about ¼ inch to about ½ inch thick, depending on the desired insulating R-value, i.e., the desired thermal resistance.

R-value is a measure of thermal resistance commonly used in the building and construction industry and is the ratio of the temperature difference across an insulator, such as the foot pad, and the heat flux (heat transfer per unit area per unit time) through it. R as used herein is expressed as ft²×° F.×hours/BTU×inches.

After use, foot pad 10 is rolled up and secured by carrier 14 with bands 18 and 20.

The foregoing specification and the drawings are illustrative, but are not to be taken as limiting. Alterations and variations within the spirit and scope of the invention are possible and will readily present themselves to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. An insulating, flexible foot pad having a rectangular configuration and comprising

a polyalkylene bubble sheet;

a reflective metallized film bonded to each side of the bubble sheet and presenting an exposed face; and

a non-slip surface on at least one exposed face of the reflective metallized film.

2. The foot pad in accordance with claim 1 wherein a non-slip coating is present on both of said exposed faces.

3. The foot pad in accordance with claim 1 wherein the metallized film is provided with a layer of aluminum.

4. The foot pad in accordance with claim 1 wherein the polyalkylene film is a polyethylene film.

5. The foot pad in accordance with claim 1 wherein the metallized film contains aluminum and the polyalkylene is polyethylene.

6. The foot pad in accordance with claim 1 wherein the non-slip coating is a resin composition containing abrasive particles.

7. The foot pad in accordance with claim 1 wherein the non-slip coating is a varnish composition containing abrasive particles.

8. The foot pad in accordance with claim 1 wherein the non-slip coating is a resin composition containing rubber particles.

9. The foot pad in accordance with claim 1 wherein the bubble sheet is a polyethylene bubble sheet, the metallized film is polyethylene coated with aluminum, and the non-slip coating on the metallized film is a resin composition containing abrasive particles.

10. The foot pad in accordance with claim 1 wherein the bubble sheet is a polyethylene bubble sheet, the metallized film is polyethylene terephthalate coated with aluminum, and the non-slip coating on the metallized film is a resin composition containing rubber particles.

11. The foot pad in accordance with claim 1 in the form of a roll secured by a pair of bands joined to one another by a handle.

12. The foot pad in accordance with claim 1 wherein the non-slip surface is an epoxy polymer coating.

13. The foot pad in accordance with claim 1 wherein the non-slip surface is a non-slip adhesive tape.